Menu c ard deck



Dec. 28, 1943. A EASLEY 2,337,594

MENU CARD DEC K Filed July 3, 1941 f 2 Sheets-Sheet l l l g l 5 l 0 I IF'g' l'lg '//9 f'g l BREAKFAST an msnm asumir fJmanumma mer /aeuuam am g/geuucms MET r1 I2/camaras v1 ,Q3/xmms 95' umass APP E m: e li mediumlafgv 80 i mediumla-rg 5 E Il' o x 7 Vonncnsuwufa evoked, 1w sugar 8? @j '/a awfulY 5 50 es g aus a 80u50 ou emmen ,W i

wHaLa MHK 5 A vir-ione Mm(V 15 '/cupful 7 l E UFt- .E a A d fsw-Larrea a #new n. mth out sugar .n vnihnuh sugar 4 l If l I l 'f5 v 19 5 ,ea f6 [90 "r1 I .1:7 I n j l if 7g /Ae i /19 BREAKFAST K/ sasxmsf f 57- /nsnucma mer u ffzeoucms mer if /EREMFAST 1 mames '2B/fammes [REUUCINS mer] f5 /ff/ PsAcHEs E, fl makes in 72 tamaier cRAcnEo WHEAT WH LE WHEAT FLAHES/ cooked 'hasugar 83 /p y; cappa I/cup, fw 511.91117 /79' oNE EGG f5 E55 7 :"7 Bauen on Pannen W bai ar paach/ l caFFEE mm MILK @9 f6 equal parts 75 50 5f? 1 mp5@ f/f l I A l fi 20 l 90 JZwf/ Easey Dec. 28, 1943.

2 SheetslSheet 2 sREAKFAsT y BREAKFAST suzAHFAsT #i Rfoucma m51 PEAcHes e, 27@ inches i" 12 dameer wHnLe WHEAT muss f cup no sugaf 75 ome ser; hailed or poacha M n f4 ,f 5i fj/ww, ,199% ,EMM/e,

y Af 'LIE asAKFAsf enflammer BRE/HFA Hfoucma mfr nsoucma DIET gammes 0mm any1/:Laufe ,APPLE yE/fg @15h25 In' 50 j medium-LQYQQ 8a Lamelev f 5f V/ l f'/ f coFFselANorglLn E apar s tp; cupul f5 if f' a Y', /Ir j? *i 56 (if #7 j' J "wucnlon flex 25kg Patented Dec. 28, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFIJCE MENU GARD DECK Alex Easley, El Paso, Tex. Application jury 3,1941, serial N0.v 401,050'

6 Claims.

This invention relates to a novel deck of' cards, the different cards of which are so constructed that by selecting a group of cards and stacking them, a complete well balanced menu will be contained in exposed indicia of the different stacked cards.

Due to the increasing knowledge of thechemistry of foods and the effects of proper and improper foods, and combinations of foods on the body, medical scienceA hasbeen advancing rapidly in recent times in the treatment and alleviation of certain illnesses and diseases which are a` direct result, of improper diets, such illnesses andi diseases are being at the present time scientifically treated by'prescribed diets. However, physicians up to the present time have encountered considerable difculty in prescribing speciall diets; not only in that it is complicated and laborious to the physicians to enumerate the foods, to be eaten and those to be avoided so that all* foods which can be eaten willl be included,l but also in that the patient receives the diet in such a form that it is dimcult to follow and there is usually no method employedto, insurethat the foods willi be so combined as to provide aA well balanced diet.

It is therefore a primary aim of the present invention to afford a card system whereby a physician can quickly select groups, or setsv of cards Which when combined to form a deck of cards will afford numerous combinations` of menusv each composed of foods. permitted to the patient and each combining. to form a well balanced diet by the selection of a single. card from each of the sets of cards.

More particularly, it is an aim of the invention to so construct the individual cards that the cards composing the different sets of the deck will, be distinctively marked to distinguish them from the cards of the other sets, and also so thatr by selecting and stacking a single card from each set or group a complete well balancedv diet for a meal will be exposed by looking at the stacked group of cards.

More particularly,` it is anobject. of the nvenf tion to so. construct the individual cards of; a deck of the menu cards that the cardsV of eachA set or group will contain certain indicia, which indicia of each card will be different and will comprise one item of. a menu, said indicia of the different sets being staggered relatively to one another, and said cards being so constructed. that whena card of each of the sets is stacked, in any order, the, indicia on each of' the cards will be visible and exposed toview.

Numerous other objects and' advantages ofthe invention will hereinafterfbecome more fully apparent from the following description of. the drawings, which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention, and: wherein:

Figure 11 aA top plan view` of a plurality of cardsforming a part of a menu deck and comprising acardf from each of a. plurality ofr sets. of the cards of' the` deck arranged ina stacked formation,

Figures 2', 3, 4 and 5 are top plan viewsI of the individual cardsrforrning thestack of cards shown in Figure 1,

Figurel 6 is a-view similar to Figure l showing a stackedgroup'of card'sof' a deck, the individual cards of which are of a slightly different construction than thosevshown in Figures 1A to 5;

Figures?, 8, 9f and l0 are-top plan views of the four cards whichare shown stackedy in Figure 6,

Fig-ure 11` is a topplan- View of av card of` a slightlyY diierent-V construction, and-v Figure 12` is asimilar View of a card of; still another construction.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate like or correspondingpartsV throughoutthe different views, l5, i6, Il and' I8 designate generally four menu cards, shown in Figures 2;V 3, 4 and 5, respectively. The; cards l5, Iii;V lil' and` I8 each constitutesr one of' a group or set of cards composing a deck of menu cards for a particular mealg, in this instance, constituting a deck, of breakfast menu cards. The number of cards in each of the sets or groups can vary depending upon the, extent of the diet permitted' so that the complete deck can b e composed` of anywhere from a .very few cards, to a large number of cards` Each` of. the cards I5, I6, l] and t8V includes a border I9, and said borders t9. are adapted tobe distinctively colored or otherwise` distinctivelymarked, and the other cards which. would com pose each of thesets: or groupsy o-fcards with the cards l5, I6., Il and- I8 would be provided with borders* t9 similar-ly` marked or colored sothat the cards composing, eachy set. of the deck could be readily selectedfromthe cards; of the; other set or sets.

In the embodiment. of" the invention as` shown in Figures, 1; to'r 5;, each of thecards l5, I6, l] and l8' containsi indicia on its` face 20 and near its upper edge reading Breakfast reducing diet. It is to: be understood that'` this title Breakfast reducing die designated generally.-V 2l is only intended toillustrateonetype of diet, and that the cards could likewise be employed for other types of diets including merely well balanced normal diets for healthy persons. The cards shown in Figures 2 to 5, beneath and preferably to the right of their titles 2I, preferably include the indicia Calories, designated generally 22. The card I5, beneath and adjacent the indicia Calories is provided with a portion 23 containing the indicia Apple 1 medium-large, and to the right thereof the numeral 80. Beneath the indicia containing portion 23, the card I5 is provided with an elongated cut-out portion forming an opening 24, the length of which is more than three times as great as the width of the part of the portion 23 which contains the indicia.. The card I5, between the opening 24 and the lower part of its border I3 also preferably contains the indicia and coffee orftea. if desired without sugar.

The card I6 contains the indicia 2| and 22, oorresponding to card I5, and therebeneath and adjacent thereto is provided with an elongated opening 25. which is arranged nearer to the upper edge of the card I5 than the opening 24 is to the card I5. Beneath the opening 25, and adjacent thereto, the card I3 is provided with an indicia bearing portion 26 containing the indicia Whole milk 1/2 cupful, and to the right thereof the numeral 78. The upper portion of the opening 25 is located in the same position relatively to the card I3 as the portion 23 is to the card I5, and the portion 26 is similarly located to the lower portion of the opening 24. l Card I'I` likewise contains the indicia 2I and 22 at the top thereof, corresponding to the card I5, and therebeneath and spaced therefrom, the card I1 is provided with van indicia bearing portion 21 containing the indicia Cracked wheat cooked no sugar 1/2 cupful,` and to the right thereof the numeral 82. Between the indicia bearing portion 21 and the portion of the card containing the indicia 2I and 22, the card I1 is provided with a restricted opening 23, and beneath the portion 21 a larger opening 23. Card I8, which also contains the indicia 2I and 22 adjacent the top thereof,'is provided with an indicia bearing portion 34 containing the indicia One egg boiled or poached, and to the right thereof the numeral ""14. Between the indicia `2| and 22 and the portion 33, the card I8 is provided with an openingV 3I, corresponding in size to Ythe opening 23, and beneath the portion 33 with an opening 32, corresponding in size'V to the opening 23. i

` It will thus be seen'that theindicia of the portions 23, 25, 21 and 33 are staggered so that when the cards I6, I1 and I3 areV stacked beneath the card I5, in any order, the indicia of portions 26, 21 and 33 will all be visible, as seen in Figure 1, in addition to all of the indicia contained on the face 20 of the card I5 to thus provide a complete well balanced menu for a, breakfast for a person on a reducing diet. The other cards, not shown, of the group or set of the cards I5 will be of eX- actly the same construction and will differ only in the indicia contained on the portion 23 and the 'same will be true of the other cards of the groups or sets of which the cards I5, I1 and I3 form parts so that any combination of cards composed of a cardfrom each of the four sets comprising the menu deck, when stacked, as previously explained, will provide a well balanced breakfast dietalthough the items of which will be different so4 as to affordnumerous different combinations. It will likewise be readilyapparent that the same the well balanced meal, as the number shown,

namely four, is only intended for the purpose of illustration. Furthermore, it will be readiy apparent that the different numerals below the indicia Calories on the card I5 indicate the number of calories of each item on the menu so that the patient can quickly add these numerals to ascertain the number of calories of the meal that i he has selected. Also, if desired, the indicia at theV bottom of the card I5 could be similarly applied to the bottom of each of the other cards so that they could be stacked in any order without effecting the result.

Referring to Figures 6 to 10, inclusive, Figures '1, 8, 9 and 10 each disclose a breakfast menu card of a slightly different construction than the cards shown in Figures 1 to 5 in that said cards, designated generally 33, 34, 35 and 36, respectively, are each formed of a transparent material such as Celluloid, for example. The card 33, adjacent its top is provided with an opaque portion 31 containing the letter A. Cards 34, 35 and 36 are provided with similarly located opaque portions 38, 39 and 40, respectively, containing, respectively, the letters B, C and D. Beneath the opaque portions 31, 38, 39 and 40, the cards are each provided with a corresponding opaque portion 4I, each of which opaque portions 4I contains the indicia Breakfast reducing diet, and ther'ebeneath and adjacent thereto and adjacent the right hand edge of each of the cards is provided a corresponding opaque portion 42 containing the indicia Calories The card 33 beneath and adjacent its opaque portion 42 is provided with a transversely extending opaque panel 43 containing the indicia Peaches 2 21/2 inches in diameterjand to the right thereof the numeral 72. Card 34 contains a similar panel 44 which is spacedaway from its opaque portion 42 a distance of substantially the width of the portion 43, said panel 44 containing the indicia Whole wheat flakes 1 cup no sugar, and to the right thereof the numeral 75. The card 35 has an opaque panel 45, corresponding to the panels 43 and 44 and spaced from its opaque portion 42 a `distance equal substantially to the combined width of the panels 43 and 44. VThe panel 45 contains the indicia One egg boiled or poached, and to the right thereof the numeralf74. The card 36 is provided with asimilar opaque panel 46, adjacent its bottom edge and spaced from its opaque portion 42 a distance corresponding to the combined width of the panels 43, 44 and 45. The panel 46 contains the indicia Coffee and milk equal parts 1 cupful, and to the right thereof the numeral 781. v

It. will be obvious that if the cards 33, 34, 35 and 36 are stacked in any order desired that the four panels 43, 44, 45 and 46 will all be visible, as seen in Figure 6 to provide a complete menu. In view of the detailed description of the cards shown in Figures 1 to 5 a further description of the cards shown in Figures 6 to 10 is considered unnecessary,` as it will be readily obvious that these cards each form one of a group or set of cards all of which combineto form a complete menu deck, in the same manner as the cards in Figures 1 to 5.

Figure 11 illustrates a card of a slightly dinerent construction from the cards shown in Figures 1 to 5 or 6 to 10, and which, it is to be understood, constitutes only one card of one of a plurality of sets or groups of cards ci a deck. This card, designated generally 41 is similar to the cards shown in Figures 1 to 5 except that instead of having one large opening or one medium sized and one small opening the card 4l is provided with three openings 41 all of the same size and thereabove is provided with a, panel portion 49 containing the indicia Cantaloupe 1/2, 41/2 inches in diameter, and to the right thereof the numeral 30. The top of the card 41 is provided with the same indicia as the cards shown in Figures 1 to 10. It is to be understood that in the deck of cards of which the card 41 forms a part there would be four groups or sets of cards of which the card 4l is an example of a card of one of the sets. The cards of another of the sets would be provided with an indicia bearing portion 4S located in the same position relatively to these cards as the upper opening 48 is located relatively to the card 4l and such cards would have an opening 43 located in the same position therein as the indicia of the portion 49 is located on the card 41. Similarly, the indicia of the other two groups of cards would be located to correspond to the intermediate opening 48 and the lower opening 58, respectively, of the card di, and the locations of their openings 4% would be varied so that in the rst card there would be two openings fl above the indicia of the portion 49 and one therebelovf, and in the cards of the last set three openings i8 would be above the indicia bearing portion la Thus, when a card from each oi the groups or sets comprising the deck, of which the card il forms a part, were stacked in any order the indicia of the portion 4d of each of the four cards would be visible.

In Figure 12 a menu card 56 is illustrated which corresponds to the card 4l in every respect except that instead of being provided with openings 48 it is provided with similarly shaped and similarly located transparent portions 5l. As the card 5B corresponds in every other respect to the card `41 a further description thereof is deemed unnecessary. Likewise, cards 4l and 53 are preferably provided with borders 52 which are adapted to be distinctively marked or colored, similarly to the borders i9 ci the cards shown in Figures 1 to 5, and for the same purpose.

Various other modifications and changes are contemplated and may obviously be resorted to as only preferred embodiments of the invention have been disclosed.

I claim as my invention:

1. A card deck of the class described comprising three or more cards, the rst of said cards having an opening means, the second of said cards being disposable behind said rst card and having a portion crossing and observable through said openings means, said second card having an opening registrable with the opening means, and the third of said cards being disposable behind the second cards and having a p0rtion crossing and observable through both said opening means and said opening.

2. A card deck of the class described comprising three or more cards, the iirst oi said cards having an opening means, the second of said cards being disposable behind said first card and having a portion crossing observable through said opening means, said second card having an opening registrable with the opening means, and the third of said cards `being disposable behind the second card and having a portion crossing and observable through both said opening means and said opening, each of said portions having indicia thereon observable through said opening means.

3. A card deck ci the class described comprising three or more cards, the rst of said cards having an opening means, the second of said cards being disposable behind said rst card and having a portion ci ossing and observable through said opening means, said second card having an opening registrable with the opening means, and the third of said cards being disposable behind the second card and having a portion crossing and observable through both said opening means and said opening, each of said portions having indicia thereon observable through said opening means, the indicia being such as to indicate a menu.

4. A card deck of the class described cornprising three or more cards, the rst of said cards having an opening means, the second of said cards being disposable behind said lrst card and having a portion crossing and observable through said opening means, said second card having an opening registrable with the opening means, and the third or" said cards being disposable behind the second card and having a portion crossing and observabie through both said opening means and said opening, each of said portions having indicia thereon observable through said opening means, all of said opening means and openings being of approximately the same width, indicia on each of said portions and indicia on the rst card adjacent to the opening means, all the indicia coacting to indicate a menu.

5. A card deck of the class described comprising three or more cards, each card having a light-penetrabie portion and an opaque portion, each opaque portion being at a different relative location on the respective card, whereby the cards when stacked will group and display said opaque portions for joint observation.

6. A card deck of the class described comprising three or more cards, each card having a transparent portion and an opaque portion, each opaque portion at a diierent relative location on the cards, whereby the cards when stacked will group and display said opaque portions for joint observation through a transparent portion, said opaque portion having indicia thereon, and the indicia coacting to indicate a menu.

ALEX EASLEY. 

